(Newser)
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Canadian police said Wednesday they believe two fugitives suspected of killing a North Carolina woman and her Australian boyfriend as well as another man have been found dead in dense brush in northern Manitoba, the AP reports. Authorities located two male bodies and are confident they are 19-year-old Kam McLeod and 18-year-old Bryer Schmegelsky, said Royal Canadian Mounted Police Assistant Commissioner Jane MacLatchy. She said an autopsy will confirm their identities and causes of death. Critical evidence was found last week when police discovered items directly linked to the suspects located on the shoreline of the Nelson River, MacLatchy said. Following that discovery, authorities were able to narrow down the search.

Police sent in specialized teams and began searching high-probability areas. On Wednesday morning, police located the two bodies within 0.6 miles from where the items were found and approximately 5.6 miles from where they left a burnt-out vehicle on July 22. "We are confident that these are the bodies of the two suspects wanted in connection with the homicides in British Columbia," MacLatchy said. A manhunt for the pair had spread across three provinces. The suspects had not been seen since the burnt-out car was found on July 22. Police had said Tuesday they were investigating all possibilities including the possibility that the suspects might have drowned. A police helicopter initially spotted a damaged boat along the Nelson River last week and a follow-up search in the area uncovered the items directly linked to the two in what authorities described as very challenging terrain.